Shift register, and solid state image sensor and camera using shift register

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a solid state image sensor and a camera using such a solid state image sensor, in which all of stage registers of the shift register can be reset efficiently without increasing the number of pads and/or sensor pins. The solid state image sensor comprises a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements  31  arranged in a two-dimensional array, a vertical shift register  503  disposed in a column direction and a horizontal shift register  504  disposed in a row direction and is characterized in that a timing for controlling resetting means for a first stage register of the shift register differs from a timing for controlling a second stage register and subsequent stage registers. Further, as a concrete example, the second stage register and subsequent stage registers are rest by a pulse for driving the shift register and the first stage register is reset by a pulse in which a high level is reached only upon power ON.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a shift register, and a solid stateimage sensor using such a shift register and a camera using such a shiftregister, and more particularly, it relates to a resetting system for ashift register.

2. Related Background Art

FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram showing a conventional XY type solid stateimage sensor having shift registers and a plurality of photoelectricconversion elements, which was disclosed in Japanese Patent ApplicationLaid-open No. 2002-353430. In FIG. 9, signals read out from a pixel partare successively read and scanned in a vertical shift register 503 and ahorizontal shift register 594 and pixel signals are outputted in atime-lapse manner. One pixel is constituted by a photodiode 31, atransfer MOS transistor 32, an amplifying MOS transistor 33, a reset MOStransistor 34 and a selecting MOS transistor 35. A sensor unit isconstituted by arranging such pixels in a two-dimensional array.

Further, the vertical shift register 503 performs column scanning of thephotodiodes (photoelectric conversion elements) 31 via the election MOStransistors 35 and the horizontal shift resistor 504 performs rowscanning of the photodiodes 31 via row selecting MOS transistors 36.Incidentally, since constructions and operations of such vertical shiftregister 503, horizontal shift register 504 and sensor unit of the solidstate image sensor are well-known, detailed explanation thereof will beomitted.

As one of resetting systems for resetting the shift resisters to drivethe solid state image sensor, for example, as disclosed in JapanesePatent Application Laid-open No. H06-338198 (1994), a system in whichall of stages are reset simultaneously by using an independent resetpulse ΦR is known. An example of an arrangement of such a shift registeris shown in FIG. 10.

Incidentally, in this specification, setting to predetermined potentialis defined as “reset”, which is used hereinafter throughout thespecification and claims.

In FIG. 10, a shift register unit 11 is constituted by first and secondclock type inverters 12 and 13 which are connected in series, and areset MOS transistor 14. The reset MOS transistor 14 comprises a Pchannel MOS transistor connected between an input node of the secondclock type inverter and power potential VDD and is provided in a firststage register. Further, an input signal ΦST is inputted to an input ofthe first clock type inverter 12 and the reset pulse ΦR is inputted to agate of the reset MOS transistor 14 of a first stage of the shiftresister.

By connecting plural shift register units 11 having the above-mentionedconstruction as a multi-stage in a longitudinal direction, the shiftregister is formed. Now, a resetting operation of such a shift registerhaving such an arrangement will be described with reference to a timingchart shown in FIG. 11. Before a high level of the start pulse ΦST fordriving the shift register is inputted to the shift register, a lowlevel of an external pulse ΦR for resetting all of stages of the shiftregister is inputted. The reset MOS transistors 14 for the stageresisters of the shift register are turned ON and the first stageregister is reset to the power potential VDD.

However, in order to reset the shift register in the above-mentionedmanner, it is required that an additional pulse be given from external,with the result that the number of pads and/or sensor pins will beincreased. In order to improve this, it is considered to provide asystem of FIG. 12 in which, in the resetting operation of the shiftregister, without resetting the first stage register, a second stageregister and subsequent stage resisters (on and after second stageregister) are reset by using the start pulse ΦST for the shift register.

In FIG. 12, a shift register unit 20 of the first stage register isconstituted by a first inverter unit 25, a second inverter unit 26 anddummy reset MOS transistor 27. The first inverter unit 25 is constitutedby a first switch 21 and an inverter 22 which are connected in series.The second inverter unit 26 is constituted by a second switch 23 and aninverter 24 which are connected in series. The dummy reset MOStransistor 27 comprises an N channel MOS transistor connected between aninput node of the first inverter and GND potential and is provided inthe first stage register.

A shift register 29 for each of the second stage register and subsequentstage registers is constituted by a first inverter unit 25, a secondinverter unit 26 and a reset MOS transistor 28. Each of the reset MOStransistors 28 comprises an N channel MOS transistor connected betweenan input node of the first inverter and GND potential and is provided ineach of the second stage register and subsequent stage registers.

A start pulse ΦST for the shift register is inputted to the inputs ofthe respective first switches. In order to reset the stage registers ofthe shift register by the start pulse ΦST for the shift register, thegate of the dummy reset MOS transistor 27 of the first stage register isfixed or held to the GND potential.

The shift register is constructed by connecting the shift register unit20 of the first stage register having such a construction and the shiftregister units 29 of the second stage register and the subsequent stageregisters as a multi stage in a longitudinal direction. Now, a resettingoperation of the shift register having such a construction will bedescribed with reference to a timing chart of FIG. 13.

At the same time when a high level of the start pulse ΦST for drivingthe shift register is inputted to the shift register, the reset MOStransistors 28 for resetting the various stage registers are turned ON,thereby resetting the various stage registers of the shift register tothe GND potential. Further, potentials ΦH1, ΦH2 and ΦH3 of the variousstage registers in FIG. 13 correspond to potentials of the first tothird stage registers in FIG. 12 and ΦH4 corresponds to the potential ofthe fourth stage register.

In a case where the shift register is reset in the above-mentionedmanner, the resetting of the first stage register of the shift registeris not performed. Accordingly, there arose a problem that the firststage register of the shift register becomes unstable to affect thepixel signal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is made in consideration of the above-mentionedconventional problem, and an object of the present invention is toprovide a solid image sensor and a camera, in which all of stageregisters of a shift register can be reset efficiently withoutincreasing the number of pads and/or sensor pins.

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a solidstate image sensor comprising a plurality of photoelectric conversionelements arranged in a two-dimensional array, a vertical shift registerfor scanning the photoelectric conversion elements in column-direction,a horizontal shift register for scanning the photoelectric conversionelements in row direction and means for setting various stage registersof the vertical shift register and the horizontal shift register topredetermined potentials and wherein a control timing for controllingthe above-mentioned means regarding a first stage register of thevertical shift register or the horizontal shift register differs from acontrol timing for controlling such means regarding a second stageregister and subsequent stage registers thereof.

Further, in the present invention, each of the second stage register andsubsequent stage registers of the shift register may be reset by adriving pulse for the shift register and the first stage register isreset by a pulse which reaches a high lever only upon power ON.

In this way, by resetting the first stage register by means of the pulsewhich reaches the high lever only upon power ON and by resetting thesecond stage register and subsequent stage registers by means of a startpulse for the shift register, all of the stage registers of the shiftregister can be reset positively upon power ON.

Further, according to the present invention, in the shift register, thefirst stage register may be reset by using a pulse internally generated.

By internally generating the reset pulse for the first stage register inthis way, a solid stage image sensor can be obtained without requiringfor generating independent reset pulse or pulses and without increasingthe number of the pads and/or sensor pins.

According to the present invention, by using the resetting means for thefirst stage register which differ from the resetting means for thesecond stage register and subsequent stage registers, without increasingthe number of new pads and/or sensor pins, any influence which would begenerated if the first stage register is not reset can be prevented fromaffecting upon the image signal. Accordingly, the shift resistorsprovided in the solid state image sensor can be reset efficiently.

Further, the present invention provides a shift register comprisingmeans for setting various stage registers to predetermined potentialsand wherein a control timing for controlling said means regarding afirst stage register of said shift register differs from a controltiming for controlling said means regarding a second stage register andsubsequent stage registers thereof.

In this way, it is possible to provide a shift register in which all ofthe stage registers can be reset efficiently without increasing thenumber of control pins and which has no output dispersion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram for explaining a shift registeraccording to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing a first embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is a timing chart for explaining an operation of the firstembodiment;

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing an example of a circuit forgenerating a reset pulse for resetting a first stage register, used inthe first embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing a second embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 is a timing chart for explaining an operation of the secondembodiment;

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram showing a third embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a camera using asolid state image sensor of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a conventional XY address type solidstage image sensor;

FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram showing a conventional shift register;

FIG. 11 is a timing chart for explaining a resetting operation of theshift register of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a circuit diagram showing resetting means of a conventionalshift register;

FIG. 13 is a timing chart for explaining a resetting operation of theshift register of FIG. 10; and

FIG. 14 is a showing an embodiment of a video camera using the solidstate image sensor of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Now, embodiments of the present invention will be fully explained withreference to the accompanying drawings.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram for explaining a shift registeraccording to the present invention. First of all, a horizontal shiftregister 201 corresponds to the horizontal shift register 504 shown inFIG. 9 and a reset circuit 202 is a reset circuit for resetting theshift register 201. The reset circuit 202 corresponds to a reset MOStransistor 58 for a second stage register and subsequent stage registerswhich will be described later and a MOS transistor 203 corresponds to areset MOS transistor 57 for a first stage register, which will bedescribed later. Incidentally, in FIG. 1, while only the horizontalshift register 201 was shown, resetting means according to the presentinvention can also be applied to the vertical shift register 503 of FIG.9.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing a first embodiment of a shiftregister according to the present invention in which resetting means forthe first stage register differ from resetting means for the secondstage register and subsequent stage-registers. The shift registercorresponds to the vertical shift register 503 and the horizontal shiftregister 504 shown in FIG. 9, respectively. Further, in FIG. 2, whileelements other than the shift register were omitted, the other elementsof a solid state image sensor according to the present invention aresimilar to those shown in FIG. 9. Incidentally, it should be noted thatthe arrangement of the pixel is not limited to the arrangement shown inFIG. 9 but various arrangements can be used. This is also true regardingother embodiments.

In FIG. 2, a shift register unit 50 of the first stage register isconstituted by a first inverter unit 55, a second inverter unit 56 and areset MOS transistor 57. The first inverter unit 55 is constituted by afirst switch 51 and an inverter 52 which are connected in series. Thesecond inverter unit 56 is constituted by a second switch 53 and aninverter 54 which are connected in series. The reset MOS transistor 57comprises an N channel MOS transistor connected between an input node ofthe first inverter and GND potential and is provided in the first stageregister.

Further, a shift register unit 29 for each of the second stage registerand subsequent stage registers is constituted by a first inverter unit55, a second inverter unit 56 and a reset MOS transistor 58. Each of thereset MOS transistors 58 comprises an N channel MOS transistor connectedbetween an input node of the first inverter and GND potential and isprovided in each of the second stage register and subsequent stageregisters.

A start pulse ΦST for the shift register is inputted to an input of thefirst switch 51 and a reset pulse ΦPUC is inputted to a gate of thereset MOS transistor 57 of the first stage register of the shiftregister. The start pulse ΦST for the shift register is inputted to thereset MSO transistors 58 of the second stage register and subsequentstage registers.

The shift register is constructed by connecting the shift register unit50 of the first stage register having such a construction and the shiftregister units 59 of the second stage register and the subsequent stageregisters as a multi stage in a longitudinal direction. A resettingoperation of the shift register having such a construction will now bedescribed with reference to a timing chart of FIG. 3.

Before a high level of the start pulse ΦST for driving the shiftregister is inputted to the shift register, a high level of theinternally generated pulse ΦPUC for resetting the first stage registeris inputted. As a result, the reset MOS transistor 57 of the first stageregister is turned ON, thereby resetting the first stage register to theGND potential.

Then, after the start pulse ΦST becomes a high level condition, thesecond stage register and subsequent stage registers of the shiftregister are reset. In this case, immediately after the reset MOStransistors 58 of the second stage register and subsequent stageregisters are turned ON, the first switches are in an OFF condition; ifthe first switches are turned ON, the second stage register andsubsequent stage registers may not be reset. Also in this case, sincethe second switches are in an OFF condition, at least upon resetting thesecond stage register and subsequent stage registers, the low level andthe high level are not met in the first switch.

Here, the reset pulse ΦPUC for resetting the first stage register of theshift register is inputted only upon the power ON, and this pulse isgenerated in a circuit arrangement as shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is aschematic view showing a circuit arrangement for generating a pulse inwhich a high level is reached only upon the power ON and a low level isalways maintained thereafter. When the reset pulse ΦPUC is used to resetthe first stage register, the following operation may be performed. Thatis to say, when an output part of the shift register is connected to agate of the MOS transistor of a selecting line or an output line of thesensor, the output parts of the second stage register and subsequentstage registers of the shift register are used by shifting one stage ofthe output part of the shift register. In this way, a normal sensoroperation can be realized.

Second Embodiment

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing a second embodiment of a shiftregister according to the present invention, in which resetting meansfor the first stage register differ from resetting means for the secondstage register and subsequent stage registers. This shift registercorresponds to the vertical shift register 503 and the horizontal shiftregister 504 shown in FIG. 9, respectively. Further, in FIG. 5, whileelements other than the shift register were omitted, the other elementsof a solid state image sensor according to the present invention aresimilar to those shown in FIG. 9.

In FIG. 5, a shift register unit 60 of the first stage register isconstituted by a first inverter unit 66, a third switch 64 and a resetMOS transistor 68. The first inverter unit 66 is constituted byconnecting a first switch 61 to a second stage of an inverter 62 inseries. The third switch-64 is used as a feedback function for holdingpotential in the first inverter unit 66 when the first switch 61 isturned OFF. The reset MOS transistor 68 comprises an N channel MOStransistor connected between an input node of the inverter and GNDpotential and is provided in the first stage register.

Further, a shift register unit 70 for each of the second stage registerand subsequent stage registers is constituted by a second inverter unit67, a fourth switch 65 and a reset MOS transistor 69. The secondinverter unit 67 is constituted by connecting a second switch 63 to asecond stage of the inverter 62 in series. The fourth switch 65 is usedas a feedback function for holding potential in the second inverter unit67 when the second switch 63 is turned OFF. Each of the reset MOStransistors 69 comprises an N channel MOS transistor connected betweenan input node of the inverter and GND potential and is provided in eachof the second stage register and subsequent stage registers.

A start pulse ΦST for the shift register is inputted to an input of thefirst switch 61. A reset pulse ΦPUC is inputted to a gate of the resetMOS transistor 68 of the first stage register of the shift register. Thestart pulse ΦST for the shift register is inputted to the reset MSOtransistors 69 of the second stage register and subsequent stageregisters.

The shift register is constructed by connecting the shift register unit60 of the first stage register having such a construction and the shiftregister units 70 of the second stage register and the subsequent stageregisters as a multi stage in a longitudinal direction. A resettingoperation of the shift register having such a construction will now bedescribed with reference to a timing chart of FIG. 6.

Before a high level of the start pulse ΦST for driving the shiftregister is inputted to the shift register, a high level of theinternally generated pulse ΦPUC for resetting the first stage registeris inputted. As a result, the reset MOS transistor 68 of the first stageregister is turned ON, thereby resetting the first stage register to theGND potential.

Then, after the start pulse ΦST becomes a high level condition, thesecond stage register and subsequent stage registers of the shiftregister are reset. In this case, immediately after the reset MOStransistors of the second stage register and subsequent stage registersare turned ON, the first switches are in an OFF condition; if the firstswitches are turned ON, the second stage register and subsequent stageregisters may not still be reset. Also in this case, since the secondswitches are in an OFF condition, at least upon resetting the secondstage register and subsequent stage registers, the low level and thehigh level are not met in the first switch.

Third Embodiment

A circuit arrangement of a shift register according to a thirdembodiment of the present invention, in which resetting means for thefirst stage register differ from resetting means for the second stageregister and subsequent stage registers, is similar to those shown inFIGS. 2 and 5. However, in circuit arrangement according to the thirdembodiment, a reset pulse inputted to the first stage register, a resetpulse inputted to the second stage register and subsequent stageregisters and a start pulse for the shift register are generated withinthe sensor.

That is to say, a circuit for generating the above-mentioned pulses isadded to the shift register shown in FIG. 2 or FIG. 5. Further, in thisembodiment, while only a circuit of FIG. 7 which will be described laterwas shown, the other elements of a solid state image sensor according tothe third embodiment is similar to those shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram showing the third embodiment. In FIG. 7, aninverter unit 40 is constituted by connecting two inverters 41 inseries. A data pulse ΦDATA is inputted to the inverter unit 40. A pulseOR generated by an OR circuit 43 for selecting OR between the data pulseΦDATA and a pulse ΦPUC reaching a high level only upon the power ON andgenerated in FIG. 5 becomes a reset pulse inputted to a gate of thereset MOS transistor of the first stage register.

Further, a pulse ΦPST is generated by an AND circuit 44 for selectingAND between a reverse pulse of the data pulse ΦDATA and a pulse obtainedby delaying the data pulse by means of a delay circuit 42. The pulseΦPST becomes a reset pulse inputted to the gates of the reset MOStransistors of the second stage register and subsequent stage registersof the shift register and a start pulse for driving the shift register.By using the circuit so constructed as a reset pulse generating circuitof the shift register, the reset pulse for the first stage register andthe reset pulse for the second stage register and subsequent stageregisters can perform the automatic resetting, not only when the poweris turned ON but also when the start pulse is inputted to the shiftregister again.

Here, in the first to third embodiments, when the following eventsoccur, the vertical shift register and the horizontal shift register arereset: namely, upon power ON, or when outputting of a signalcorresponding to 1 frame is completed in the vertical shift register, orafter signal carriers accumulated in the horizontal shift register areread by an amount corresponding to one-scanning in a horizontal period,or the like.

Fourth Embodiment

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a still camera usingthe above-mentioned solid state image sensor according to the presentinvention. In FIG. 8, the reference numeral 101 designates a barrierserving to protect a lens and also acting as a main switch; 102designates a lens for focusing an optical image of an object onto asolid state image sensor 104; and 103 designates a diaphragm forvariably adjusting a light amount passed through the lens 102. Thereference numeral 104 designates a solid state image sensor fortaking-in the object focused by the lens 102 as an image signal. Thesolid state image sensor 104 corresponds to the above-mentioned solidstate image sensor according to the present invention.

Further, the reference numeral designates an A/D converter forperforming analogue/digital conversion of the image signal outputtedfrom the solid state image sensor 104; and 107 designates a signalprocessing unit for performing various corrections and/or datacompression with respect to image data outputted from the A/D converter106. Further, the reference numeral 108 designates a timing generatorfor outputting various timing signals to the solid state image sensor,an image pickup signal processing circuit 105, the A/D converter 106 andthe signal processing unit 107.

Further, the reference numeral 109 designates a unit controlling wholeand arithmetic operation for performing various arithmetic operationsand for controlling the whole still video camera; 110 designates amemory unit for temporarily storing the image data; and 111 designatesan I/F (interface) unit controlling recording medium for performingrecording or reading-out with respect to a recording medium. Further,the reference numeral 112 designates a removable recording medium suchas a semiconductor memory for performing recording or reading-out of theimage data; and 113 designates an external I/F (interface) forperforming communication to an external computer and the like.

Next, a photo-taking operation of the still video camera according tothe illustrated embodiment will be explained. First of all, when thebarrier 101 is opened, a main power source is turned ON and then a powersource of a control system are turned ON and further power source of aimage sensor system such as the A/D converter 106 and the like is turnedON. Thereafter, the unit 109 controlling whole and arithmetic operationopens the diaphragm 103 to control an exposure amount, and the signaloutputted from the solid state image sensor 104 is A/D-converted in theA/D converter 106 and then is inputted to the signal processing unit107. On the basis of the data, the unit 109 controlling whole andarithmetic operation performs arithmetic operation of the exposure.

The brightness is judged on the basis of a result of such photometry,and the unit 109 controlling whole and arithmetic operation controls thediaphragm 103 in accordance with the obtained result.

Then, on the basis of the signal outputted from the solid state imagesensor 104, at the unit 109 controlling whole and arithmetic operation,a high frequency component is picked up and a distance up to the objectis calculated. Thereafter, by driving the lens 102, it is judged whetherthe focusing is achieved or not. If it is judged that the focusing isnot achieved, the lens 102 is driven again to perform photometry. Afterthe focusing is ascertained, main exposure is started.

When the exposure is finished, the image signal outputted from the solidstate image sensor 104 is A/D-converted in the A/D converter 106 andthen passes through the signal processing unit 107 and is written in thememory unit 110 by unit 109 controlling whole and arithmetic operation.Thereafter, the data accumulated in the memory unit 110 passes throughthe I/F unit 111 controlling recording medium and is recorded on theremovable recording medium 112 such as the semiconductor memory, underthe control of unit 109 controlling whole and arithmetic operation.Further, the data may be inputted to a computer and the like directlythrough the external I/F unit 113 to work the image.

Fifth Embodiment

An embodiment in which the solid state image sensor according to thepresent invention is applied to a video camera will be fully explainedwith reference to FIG. 14.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a case where the solid state imagesensor according to the present invention is applied to the videocamera. In FIG. 14, a photo-taking lens 201 comprises a focusing lens201A for performing focus adjustment, a zoom lens 201B for performing azooming operation and a lens 201C for focusing an image.

The reference numeral 202 designates a diaphragm; and 203 designates asolid state image sensor according to the present invention in which animage of an object focused on an image sensor surface isphoto-electrically converted to convert it into an electrical imagepickup signal. The reference numeral 204 designates a sample holdcircuit (S/H circuit) for sample-holding the image pickup signaloutputted from the solid state image sensor 203 and for amplifying alevel, which S/H circuit outputs a picture signal.

The reference numeral 205 designates a process circuit for performingpredetermined processing such as gamma correction, color separation andblanking processing with respect to the picture signal outputted fromthe sample hold circuit 204, which process circuit outputs a luminancesignal Y and a chroma signal C. The chroma signal C outputted from theprocess circuit 205 is subjected to white balance correction and colorbalance correction in a color signal correcting circuit 221 and isoutputted as color difference signals R-Y and B-Y.

Further, the luminance signal Y outputted from the process circuit 205and the color difference signals R-Y, B-Y outputted from the colorsignal correcting circuit 221 are modulated in an encoder circuit (ENCcircuit) 224 and are outputted as standard television signals. Thesesignals are supplied to a video recorder or a monitor EVF such as anelectronic view finder (not shown).

An iris control circuit 206 serves to control an iris drive circuit 207on the basis of the picture signal supplied from the sample hold circuit204. This circuit automatically controls ig meter to control an apertureamount of the diaphragm 202 so that a level of the picture signalbecomes a predetermined level as a constant value.

The reference numerals 213 and 214 designate band pass filters (BPF)having different band limitations for extracting high frequencycomponents required for performing focus detection, from the picturesignal outputted from the sample hold circuit 204. Signals outputtedfrom the first band pass filter 213 (BPF1) and the second band passfilter 214 (BPF2) are gated by a gate circuit 215 and a focus gate framesignal, respectively. Further, peak values thereof are detected by apeak detecting circuit 216 and are held and are inputted to a logiccontrol circuit 217.

This signal is called as focus voltage, and the focusing is performed bythis focus voltage.

Further, the reference numeral 218 designates a focus encoder fordetecting a shifted position of the focus lens 201A; 219 designates azoom encoder for detecting a focal length of the zoom lens 201B; and 22o designates an iris encoder for detecting the aperture amount of thediaphragm 202. Values detected by these encoders are supplied to thelogic control circuit 217 for performing system control.

The logic control circuit 217 performs focus detection and focusadjustment of the object on the basis of the picture signalcorresponding to a set focus detection area. That is to say, the logiccontrol circuit takes in peak value information of the high frequencycomponents supplied by the respective band pass filters 213 and 214.Further, the logic control circuit supplies control signals for a focusmotor 210 such as a rotational direction signal, a rotational speedsignal, a rotation/stop signal and the like to a focus drive circuit 209to drive the focus lens 201A to a position where the peal values of thehigh frequency components become maximum and controls the focus motor.

This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application Nos.2004-255694 filed Sep. 2, 2004 and 2005-214228 filed Jul. 25, 2005,which are hereby incorporated by reference herein.

1. A solid state image sensor comprising a plurality of photoelectricconversion elements arranged in a two-dimensional array, a verticalshift register for scanning said photoelectric conversion elements incolumn-direction, a horizontal shift register for scanning saidphotoelectric conversion elements in row-direction and means for settingvarious stage registers of said vertical shift register and saidhorizontal shift register to predetermined potential, wherein: a controltiming for controlling said means regarding a first stage register ofsaid vertical shift register or said horizontal shift register differsfrom a control timing for controlling said means regarding a secondstage register and subsequent stage registers thereof.
 2. A solid stateimage sensor according to claim 1, wherein the control timing forcontrolling said means for setting said first stage register to thepredetermined potential is faster than the control timing forcontrolling said means for setting said second stage register andsubsequent stage registers to the predetermined potentials.
 3. A solidstate image sensor according to claim 1, wherein, upon power ON, or whenoutputting of a signal corresponding to 1 frame is completed in saidvertical shift register, or whenever signal carriers accumulated in saidhorizontal shift register are read by an amount corresponding toone-scanning in a horizontal period, said means sets said stageregisters to the predetermined potential, and the setting of said secondstage register and subsequent stage registers, other than said firststage register, to the predetermined potential utilizes a shift registerdriving pulse and the setting of said first stage register to thepredetermined potential utilizes a pulse generated only upon the powerON.
 4. A solid state image sensor according to claim 1, wherein a startpulse for said vertical shift register and said horizontal shiftregister and a reset pulse used upon resetting are pulses internallygenerated within a sensor.
 5. A camera comprising: a solid state imagesensor according to claim 1; a lens for focusing an optical image of anobject onto said solid state image sensor; and signal processing meansfor processing a signal from said solid state image sensor.
 6. A shiftregister comprising means for setting various stage registers of saidshift register, wherein: a control timing for controlling said meansregarding a first stage register of said shift register differs from acontrol timing for controlling said means regarding a second stageregister and subsequent stage registers thereof.